The Department of Transportations (DOTr) expects to complete by March next year the acquisition of the right of way (ROW) for the P488-5 billion Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) following the acceptance of compensation by residents and homeowners in Corinthian Gardens, according to acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez.
Within Corinthian Gardens, the MMSP alignment covers 500 meters and affects 33 real estate assets. As of last Sept. 30, the DOTr has issued 32 compensation offers totalling P820,555,800 to the affected property owners.
Of these, Lopez said that 20 owners have accepted offers amounting to P461.078 million, while negotiations with the remaining property owners are ongoing.
The drilling works along the MMSP alignment within the Corinthian Gardens will begin in January 2026.
To date, the right-of-way acquisition status for the MMSP is at 75 percent, with full completion targeted by March 2026.
The agency earlier awarded the Contract Page (CP) 101, covering four stations—East Valenzuela, Quirino Highway, Tandang Sora, and North Avenue—and the depot and the Philippine Railway Institute Building a joint venture led by EEI Corp., while the CP 102, comprising the stations in Quezon Avenue and East Avenue was bagged by the D.M. Consunji Inc.
CP 103, awarded to Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co. Ltd., involves the stations from Anonas to Camp Aguinaldo; while CP104 covering the Ortigas to Shaw Boulevard segment, was pocketed by Megawide Construction Corp.
Billed as the Philippines’ “Crown Jewel” of mass transit system, the MMSP will cut across eight cities stretching from Valenzuela City to FTI-Bicutan in Parañaque City with a spur line to NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City.
The 33-kilometer and 17-station rail line aims to cut travel time between Quezon City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City from the present one hour and 10 minutes to just 45 minutes.
Once operational, the underground railway system can service up to519,000 passengers daily.
The MMSP represents a monumental investment in the Philippines’ transportation future, with an estimated total cost of P488.5 billion. This project is being financed through a strategic combination of international and domestic sharings.
A substantial portion of the project, specifically P370.7 billion, will be bankrolled through an official development assistance (ODA) loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This underscores the strong bilateral partnership between the Philippines and Japan, with Japanese expertise and funding playing a crucial role in realizing the country’s first underground mass transit system.
The remaining P117.7 billion of the total project cost will be covered by the Philippine government. This commitment from the national government highlights its dedication to addressing Metro Manila’s severe traffic congestion and improving the daily commute for millions of Filipinos, the DOTr said.
